The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-09
THE PHYSIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY
OF VOLUNTARY ACTION.
BY REV. WILLIAM TUCKER, d. D.
mount Gilead. o.


In previous article we endeavored
to show that the brain and general ner-
vous system is not the cause, but the
instrument of mind. The mind thinks
with the brain as it sees with the eye,
hears with the ear, talks with the tongue,
and works with the hands. All these
organs are not the active efficient causes
of sensation, thought, emotion, voli-
tion and action. They are only the
material instruments used by the mind
in the production of intelligent, ra-
tional and voluntary phenomena. The
brain and the nervous system are the
instruments of the will as well as Of
the intellect. They are used in action
as well as in thought.
Every intelligent Psychologist knows
that we have voluntary and involuntary
nerves and muscles the first are under
the control of the will or voluntary sys-
TEN; the second are under the control
of the life or vital system. And here
we have presented the physiology of
free or voluntary action. The voluntary
nerves and muscles are always concern
ed in the voluntary actions of man.
Animals that exert great voluntary
muscular power have very large brains.
The horse, elephant and whale are re-
markable for the strength of their vol
untary muscular system, and they all
have large brains. They are not more
intelligent than other animals that
have much smaller brains, but they
are vastly their superior in voluntary
muscular energy.
This shows that these large animal
brains are the instruments of the animal
will, as well as of the animal intellect.
The demand for nerve force in intense
and protracted muscular effort is very
great, and it demands a large brain to
generate it. Men of great will power
have large heads and brains, which
shows the close connection between the
strength of will displayed in action,
and the size of the brain which is the
instrument of will in voluntary action.
know the will does not move the
voluntary muscles, but it determines
that they shall be moved. 1t does not
create nerve force, but by an act of
volition on it sets it free, and directs it
to the particular voluntary muscle nee
essary to produce certain action. This
presents the psychological side of mans
voluntary conduct. The whole process
of the action of the will in directing
thought, fixing the minds attention, re.
straining impulse, and holding in sub
lection appetite and passion, is under
the eye of consciousness. All this is a
part of our conscious experience, and
the evidence of its truth is as clear and
conclusive as evidence can be made.
But we are not conscious of the process
that connects the act of conscious vo-
lition with the conscious movement of
certain muscle which responds to that
volition. We know the beginning and
the end of the series of vital and voluu-
tary movements, but we cannot be con-
scious of that part of the movement
that is purely in the sphere of physics.
But this does not prove that no such
movement took place. 1t would only
be an appeal to our ignorance.
To appeal to what we do not know,
to disprOVe certain facts that we do
know, is to put ignorance into competi-
tion with knowledge. The argument
from the unity, indestructability and
persistence of force relied on by scien
tific materialism to disproye the fact of
will, does not answer the purpose for
which it is introduced. The function of
thewill in human beings is not TO create,
but to direct, use and apply force. To
perform new action it is not neces-
sary to create new force, but a new
Idea. To write new poem, you do
not have TO make a new alphabet, but
to create new thoughts. To reveal
new thought by the use of old forces is
a new act. This makes a new revela-
tion Of the mind, purpose and will of
man. New actions are new cOmbina-
tions of old forces. The freedom and
responsibility of man are thus shown to
be in harmony with human physiology,
and science and consciousness are ia
agreement. Moral and physical law are
united in the interest and well being of
man.